Drunk Elephant and Fenty Beauty: Disrupting Beauty Norms or Reinforcing New Ones?

Aanya Khanna
7 min readNov 20, 2024
Photo by Alysa Bajenaru on Unsplash

Imagine scrolling through Instagram, where Drunk Elephant and Fenty Beauty’s campaigns flash by with their carefully crafted promises — Drunk Elephant with its clean, “biocompatible” skincare and Fenty with its groundbreaking shade inclusivity. At first glance, they might seem straightforward: Drunk Elephant wants to save our skin from harmful chemicals, and Fenty Beauty aims to revolutionize beauty standards by making every shade matter. But if you dig a little deeper, questions start to bubble up. Are these brands truly challenging industry norms, or are they subtly reinforcing new ones?

Let’s explore this.

Drunk Elephant: The Science of Transparency or the Business of Fear?

Drunk Elephant, founded by Tiffany Masterson in 2012, quickly gained traction with its “clean-clinical” approach. Drunk Elephant’s marketing revolves around a commitment to transparency and simplicity, focusing on “biocompatible” ingredients that are compatible with all skin types. This minimalist strategy appeals to skincare enthusiasts who seek products free of commonly irritating ingredients like essential oils, fragrances, and alcohol.

Key Elements of Strategy

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